To be released by Image Comics’ Shadowline Productions imprint this coming Wednesday, November 21, 2012, is Comeback #1, a story that could have been written by Philip K. Dick about a time travel agency that will send agents back in time for you to fix wrongs or retrieve people, for a price. And if the agents mess up a reconnaissance, they can do it over.

If you’re looking for a new sci-fi story this may be for you. The story begins with what seems to be a home invasion but turns out to be a botched transport mission. We see agents that are busy with their business–instead of a glitzy business like Total Recall’s Rekall business, this company is operated more like an underground, mobster-led enterprise. Comeback is only a five-issue limited series, with Issue #1 as the set-up and Issue #2 delving into one of the agents who has a problem with a woman targeted to be brought back to the future.

The illustration is almost in a noir style, and Michael Walsh’s panels are straightforward storytelling that resemble the style of Sean Phillips’ work on his Fatale series. The lead agent could pass for Jason Staitham, which immediately plants the thought of Comeback as a sci-fi/mystery movie or TV series.

Comeback just may have the stuff that will allow it to continue in future series. Brisson and Walsh know their characters and setting and throw you right into this world, where sci-fi fans will not have any issue jumping right in. In its premiere issue it’s a good mix of crime procedural and sci-fi. It’s nicely dark and edgy, with language that will be for the older age set. And where a lot of recent sci-fi ends up as sci- fi/horror, you won’t find a lot of gore here. Check out the first four pages from Comeback #1 (click on each to enlarge):